Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507310093
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES C. BLACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Neither pitcher made it past the sixth inning.
Clutch hitting and a lack of communication proved to be the keys as Kinston regained sole possession of first place in the Southern Division of the Carolina League with a 5-3 come-from-behind victory at Salem Municipal Field.
Kinston scored four times in the eighth to earn its 14th victory in 19 tries against the Avalanche this season.
``These are two good ballclubs,'' said Kinston manager Gordy MacKenzie with a smile on his face. ``You never know what's going to happen until the last out.''
Well, the Indians (20-16) didn't wait until the last out. But they stole enough thunder from the Avalanche (18-16) that the game could have ended after Kinston's at-bat in the eighth inning.
Salem closer Matt Aminoff relieved Jason Dietrich with no outs and Ricky Gutierrez on second base in the eighth. That's when everything fell apart.
Aminoff got Todd Betts to fly out to left field, but threw a wild pitch to the next batter, which allowed Gutierrez to advance to third. Enrique Wilson then lined a single off the leg of Aminoff to bring home Gutierrez.
Aminoff walked and hit the next two batters on full-count pitches to load the bases. Greg Thomas tied the score at 3 with a sacrifice fly to center field. But the inning wasn't over yet.
Aminoff got Einar Diaz to hit a seemingly catchable fly ball to the outfield. However, center fielder Edgard Velasquez and right fielder John Giudice had problems and the ball hit off of Giudice's glove to allow the game's final two runs to score.
``It seemed like if anything could go wrong tonight, it did,'' said Salem manager Bill Hayes.
Aminoff (2-5), however, had a more basic explanation for the defeat.
``I just didn't get the job done tonight,'' he said.
The night started well for Salem. Trailing 1-0 after a half-inning, the Avalanche got to Colon for a two-run single by Nate Holdren in the first inning, then scored on a single by Velasquez in the second inning.
Colon, 13-3 with a 1.81 ERA, was knocked out with one out in the fifth inning. However, Salem was unable to hurt the Kinston bullpen as it did the previous night.
Dan Brabant (5-2) gave up three hits in 3 2/3 innings to pick up the victory, and Maximo Delarosa pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his sixth save.
Wright, who was working on a three-hitter, came out in the sixth inning after developing a blister on his right middle finger.
Another contrast to Friday's game was on the basepaths. Three Indians were thrown out Friday night. Saturday, however, Salem's Brian Culp was thrown out twice being overly aggressive.
In the third inning, after a leadoff single, Culp was thrown out at first taking too big a turn toward second. In the seventh, he ended the inning by getting thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.
The series, the home stand and the season series conclude today with a 7 p.m. game. Right-hander Jeff Sexton (0-0, 1.13) starts for Kinston, and right-hander Jeff Sobkoviak (3-2, 4.84) takes the mound for Salem.
NOTES: A season-high 4,121 fans attended Saturday's game. ... In the ninth annual Miller Lite Old Timers' game, the former major-leaguers, featuring 1971 American League Cy Young and MVP Vida Blue beat the Media All-Stars 8-1. ... Colorado Rockies owner Jerry McMorris and general manager Bob Gebhard were at Saturday night's game. The two are visiting the Rockies' East Coast farm teams.
\ see microfilm for box score
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB